Here are some of Noam’s handmade accessories, and photos from the Parlorcraft Circle:

]]>http://nyncs.org/victorian-parlorcraft-circle-handmade-bow-ties-suspenders-and-arm-garters/feed/0Second Annual Antagonistics Weekend: The Victorian Art of Self-Defensehttp://nyncs.org/second-annual-antagonistics-weekend-the-victorian-art-of-self-defense/
http://nyncs.org/second-annual-antagonistics-weekend-the-victorian-art-of-self-defense/#commentsFri, 03 Aug 2012 20:54:41 +0000http://nyncs.org/?p=541Continue reading →]]>On July 28-29, 2012, The New York Nineteenth Century Society presented the second annual Antagonistics Weekend, presenting Bartitsu, the Victorian art of self-defense, to New York City. Mark P. Donnelly, Professore di Armes and a noted Bartitsu instructor, taught the Saturday and Sunday seminars. The weekend also included a Saturday evening social at historic Delmonico’s Bar and Grill. Special thanks all those who supported our endeavor with their volunteering, services, or creative efforts: Jesse Barnick, Noam Berg, Mark P. Donnelly, Samuel Sobek, Tony Wolf and The Bartitsu Society, and all the students of The Bartitsu Club of New York City.

Below are instructional photos of the seminars, to which the Bartitsu Club of NYC will refer in the coming months as we pursue our study of this esoteric Victorian martial art.

Founder Eva has relocated to the West Coast and hopes to make the
Society into a national organization. Founder Zoh has stepped down from
the steering committee but will continue to run the Parlourcraft Circle
and to be involved as an active member. Samuel and Rachel are now the
steering committee until additional active and dedicated members are
identified.

The Parlourcraft Circle meets monthly for those interested in antique
textile and needlework techniques such as embroidery, tatting, crochet,
knitting, darning, Victorian sewing techniques, cross stitch, as well as
other ladies’ parlour crafts such as quilling, china painting,
calligraphy, decopauge, etc. The next circle is on Saturday, March 3.
Visit handwork.tumblr.com for meeting dates and more information.

The Bartitsu Club also meets monthly, for those interested in learning
Victorian martial art and especially Bartitsu, the martial art of Sherlock
Holmes. No experience is required. The next session is on Sunday, February
26. Visit www.nycsteampunk.com/bartitsu for meeting dates
and more information.

Historian Mark Donnelly will return to NYC to teach another Bartitsu
workshop in Chelsea on March 11, and to host a steampunk and 19th century
Pub Quiz on March 10 at the Way Station in Brooklyn. Visithttp://www.nycsteampunk.com/bartitsu for more on these events.

The Society’s monthly Speaker Series launches with historian Christine
Evans’ presentation of a Victorian lady’s wardrobe, with emphasis on the
underpinnings. The event was held on February 21 and was a resounding
success. The next speakers in this series will present on pocket watches
and on the history of stereoscopic photography. Victorian drug addiction
and the art of tying men’s neckwear are additional topics in the Speaker
Series queue.

Update from Samuel on the April 27-29 Extravaganza, a weekend of
19th-century events and activities. The event will culminate in a day of
picnicking and activities at the historic Old Stone House in Park Slope.
Further information is forthcoming.

Open floor: ideas from members about a more formal ParlourCraft circle
event, a guided shopping tour of the Garment District, possibilities for
“Dumpster-diving” for fabric remnants in the Garment District, thrift-shop
excursions, and other ideas for future events were discussed. At this
point, the Society’s event calendar is well-stocked until late Spring, but
event ideas are always welcomed and encouraged.

]]>http://nyncs.org/minutes-general-membership-meeting-2272012/feed/0Victorian Unmentionables: What Lies Beneath with Christine Evanshttp://nyncs.org/victorian-unmentionables-what-lies-beneath-with-christine-evans/
http://nyncs.org/victorian-unmentionables-what-lies-beneath-with-christine-evans/#commentsSun, 19 Feb 2012 05:15:54 +0000http://nyncs.org/?p=137Continue reading →]]>Thanks to a packed house that came out to see textile historian Christine Evans (nee Scott) give a fascinating lecture/demonstration on the complex underpinnings of a Victorian woman’s everyday attire, with some impeccably crafted reproduction garments as an educational tool!

Ever wonder what lies beneath all that Victorian finery? Join clothing historian Christine Scott as she presents a step-by-step guide to ladies’ clothing of the 19th century. This delightful presentation is an educational and humorous conversation about the secrets and mysteries of the Victorian lady’s wardrobe. This presentation is much more than just a lecture. Ms. Scott engages the audience and answers all the Victorian fashion questions you were always too shy to ask!

Ms. Scott’s extensive and award-winning collection of historic reproduction clothing illustrates the art of dressing during several different time periods, ranging from the early Victorian period of the 1840′s to the so-called Gay 1890′s. Beautiful, award-winning examples of underpinnings, dresses, shoes, jewelry, and all other forms of delightful Victorian frippery will be displayed, demonstrated, and explained.

The presentation itself is approximately one hour in length and afterwards tea and light pastries will be served. Meet and mingle with your fellow Nineteenth Century Enthusiasts as we explore this most mysterious of subject matters…. What lies beneath!

]]>http://nyncs.org/victorian-unmentionables-what-lies-beneath-with-christine-evans/feed/0Monday, January 30th Meeting of the New York Nineteenth Century Societyhttp://nyncs.org/monday-january-30th-meeting-of-the-new-york-nineteenth-century-society/
http://nyncs.org/monday-january-30th-meeting-of-the-new-york-nineteenth-century-society/#commentsThu, 26 Jan 2012 00:58:58 +0000http://nineteenthcenturysociety.org/newyork/?p=79Continue reading →]]>The New York Nineteenth Century society cordially invites you to our first general membership meeting of 2012. Join us Monday, January 30th, 7:00 pm at Madame X’s as we discuss upcoming events and seek your valued input into the direction and mission of the society. Current members will be asked to vote on a number of issues. New members are welcomed and membership applications will be available. Concepts and proposals for the society are also encouraged.

The first part of the evening will be devoted to society business. Afterwards we look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions. Enjoy mingling with your fellow 19th century enthusiasts over drinks as we get to know each other and build a grand community.

Did you know that Oscar Wilde’s famous quip “I have nothing to declare but my genius” was spoken upon his arrival in New York City? Or that most of the surviving photos of Wilde were taken right in Union Square? In 1882, before he had written his famous plays (or much of anything but a few poems), Oscar Wilde was already a self-made celebrity. He toured North American lecturing on Aestheticism, visiting cities, towns, and even a remote frontier mining camp, but ultimately spent more time in New York than in any other North American city.

Join us as we explore Gilded Age New York City and the people and places Wilde visited. Our distinguished tour guide John Cooper has spent decades researching Oscar Wilde with particular focus on his time in New York City. Mr. Cooper is a long-standing member of the Oscar Wilde Society in London, a prominent member of the Oscar Wilde Society of America, the Business Manager of the Victorian Society In America, the moderator of the Oscar Wilde Internet discussion group at Yahoo, and a contributor to Oscholars, the Oscar Wilde academic journal.

TICKETS: $15 cash only. Meet at 1:00 p.m. sharp on the northeast corner of Madison Square Park at 26th Street and Madison Avenue. Limited to 20 participants, with priority given to those who previously RSVPd with Samuel Sobek. All others will be first-come, first served.

]]>http://nyncs.org/oscar-wilde-walking-tour-with-john-cooper/feed/0CINCHED: Historic Corsets & Modern Corsetiereshttp://nyncs.org/cinched-historic-corsets-modern-corsetieres/
http://nyncs.org/cinched-historic-corsets-modern-corsetieres/#commentsThu, 10 Nov 2011 05:19:01 +0000http://nyncs.org/?p=144Continue reading →]]>We had a packed house for Cinched: Historic Corset and Modern Corsetieres on a Wednesday evening at Swift’s in the East Village! Thanks to everyone who came out – we hope you learned something about corsets!

“Designers, costumers, and scholars from the New York Nineteenth Century Society show off and explain their historically inspired corsets. See reproduction period corsets from the 18th-21st centuries up close and learn practical tips and tricks for constructing your own corset.

]]>http://nyncs.org/cinched-historic-corsets-modern-corsetieres/feed/0Bartitsu Festival: The Lost Martial Art of Sherlock Holmeshttp://nyncs.org/bartitsu-festival/
http://nyncs.org/bartitsu-festival/#commentsMon, 25 Jul 2011 04:17:53 +0000http://nyncs.org/?p=141Continue reading →]]>On July 23-24, 2011, The New York Nineteenth Century Society presented the Antagonistics Weekend, introducing Bartitsu, the Victorian art of self-defense, to New York City. Mark P. Donnelly, Professore di Armes and a noted Bartitsu instructor, taught the Saturday and Sunday seminars. The weekend also included a Saturday evening social, “A Study in Scarlet,” at The Way Station, featuring Professor Donnelly’s entertaining presentation on Bartitsu, street crime, and the Victorian era, as well as musical performances by Painless Parker, Mike Lunapiena, and Amalia Daskalakis. Volunteers Samuel Sobekl and Eva Ulz generously donated their time and effort to make the Antagonistics Weekend possible. Special thanks all those who supported our endeavor with their volunteering, services, or creative efforts: The Way Station, Noam Berg, Professor Fumolatro (Michael), Mark P. Donnelly, Adrienne O’Hanlon, Mike Lunapiena, Amalia Daskalakis, and anyone I may have forgotten, as well as to everyone who came out on one of the hottest days in history to support our endeavor.

Learn to fight like Sherlock Holmes! London’s Bartitsu Club was all the rage in 1899, but only recently has this lost martial art been rediscovered. Learn the “gentlemanly art of self-defense” at workshops taught by Professor Mark Donnelly, a world-renowned expert on historical combat.

Be part of history at Bartitsu’s NYC debut!

-Learn to use a walking stick, parasol, jacket, and other accessories for protection
-No martial arts experience required.
-A study in self-defense and in history.

A TWO-DAY EVENT, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY! PLEASE RSVP FOR EITHER OR BOTH – THESE ARE STANDALONE EVENTS, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO ATTEND SATURDAY TO PARTICIPATE ON SUNDAY.

Presented by The New York Nineteenth Century Society
Sponsored by Painless Parker and Professor Fumolatro